H(2)0w much?

Compared with the cost of leaving the voluntary scheme in place, I wonder how much of its customers’ money Southern Water has spent, and will continue to spend, on initial discussions on mandatory installation of meters; research into what water savings might possibly be made by switching from voluntary to compulsory metering; feasibility studies analysis and meetings?

How about how much cash it spends on publicity and admin costs prior to installation or the installation costs themselves? Not to mention the costs of reading the meters, administration of the bills including vehicles, fuel, staff, etc?

I’m sure there are many other costs, which are ultimately paid for, one way or another, by the public, which I haven’t included.

So, the question is, do the water savings made make the above costs worthwhile?

Small households will see a saving, but due to the additional costs above, I suspect it won’t be as great a saving as they would have enjoyed had the compulsory scheme not been introduced and they had chosen to have a meter under the previous voluntary scheme.

Perhaps someone from Southern Water would like to provide the answers and how much extra the switch is costing the average household and justify how they are spending our money.

Robert Lincoln

Timberleys

Littlehampton